Special Olympics is an organization that holds lots of feelings for people across the world. Inclusive, empowering, fun, inspiring. Plant High School has its very own Special Olympics club, which brought home not only its first win ever in flag football but first place overall in its first tournament of the year.
“Special Olympics is definitely my favorite part of Plant,” junior Dillon Cheong said. Cheong holds the vice-president position in the club, and this is his third year as a member.
“The wins always feel great but winning the whole tournament was an insane feeling,” Cheong said. “I am proud of every partner and athlete that led us to our victory this last tournament.”
Special Olympics meets every Monday at a place of their choosing, depending on the season. Currently, the club occupies the football field during Monday afternoons, only meeting for an hour or so.
“Special Olympics is the best club at Plant,” senior Nick Pope said. Pope is one of the co-presidents for this year’s board.
“The practices are very low commitment; however, the tournaments tend to be where we lose people,” Pope said. “My co-president and I have been trying to recruit any students, from ninth to twelfth, and let them know that they have a spot in the club if they want it.”
Plant Special Olympics is a branch of the larger organization, in which Plant’s athletes and partners compete in regional and statewide competitions. The first state tournament will take place Nov. 8 and 9 at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.
If Plant Special Olympics qualifies at their Oct. 5 regional tournament, they will secure themselves a spot in the state tournament, something that has never occurred in flag football.
“It would definitely be a huge milestone,” Cheong said. “I would be proud to say that I was a part of the group that helped get Plant Special Olympics back on top and back to states.”